A new California Massage Law, the Massage Therapy Act (Assembly Bill 1147), has been approved in September 2014 and codified at California Business and Professions Code section 460, 4600-4621 and Government Code section 51034. The Massage Therapy Act, notwithstanding any other law, prohibits a city, county, or city and county from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that conflicts with these provisions or other corresponding specified provisions. The Massage Therapy Act also makes clarifying and conforming changes regarding local regulation of massage establishments or businesses. According to the Act, effective January 1, 2015, the California Massage Therapy Council will only accept Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) applicants who complete a minimum of 500 hours of training from a CAMTC approved school and passed a CAMTC approved exam. Attendance and /or graduation from a California Massage Therapy Council approved school does not guarantee certification by CAMTC. Applicants for certification shall meet all requirements as listed in California Business and Professions Code sections 4600 et.seq.
Currently the following exams are approved by CAMTC:
- the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) and the Board Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB) if taken at any time; and
- the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) and the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) if taken on or before February 1, 2015.
Students may visit the official website of CAMTC at www.camtc.org for detail of certification requirements and/or obtain a full text of the Massage Therapy Act approved in September 2014 and codified at California Business and Professions Code section 460, 4600-4621 and Government Code section 51034.
Students should also note CAMTC’s Law related to unfair business practices as related to massage:
Pursuant to California Business and Professions Code section 4611, it is an unfair business practice for a person to do any of the following:
(a) To hold himself or herself out or to use the title of “certified massage therapist” or “certified massage practitioner,” or any other term, such as “licensed,” “certified,” “CMT,” or “CMP,” in any manner whatsoever that implies or suggests that the person is certified as a massage therapist or massage practitioner, unless that person currently holds an active and valid certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council.
(b) To falsely state or advertise or put out any sign or card or other device, or to falsely represent to the public through any print or electronic media, that he or she or an other individual is licensed, certified, or registered b a governmental agency as a massage therapist or massage practitioner.
A student or any member of the public with questions that have not been satisfactorily answered by the school or who would like to file a complaint about this school may contact the California Massage Therapy Council at: |